ARAB TIMES, FRIDAY-SATURDAY, JANUARY 29-30, 2021 NEWS/FEATURES 13

People & Places

Film

Hungry for content Sundance robust market heats up By Lindsey Bahr

hree years ago, filmmakers Julie Cohen and Betsy TWest got a dream Sundance debut. They pre- miered their film “RBG” to a sold-out crowd with Jus- tice Ruth Bader Ginsburg not only in attendance but seeing it for the first time. There was a standing ova- tion, a bidding war and a big sale. It also went on to be a major awards contender. It’s the kind of Sundance experience most filmmakers fantasize about. This year they’re returning to the festival with their follow-up, “My Name is Pauli Murray” about the somewhat obscure legal trail- blazer, and while their excite- ment remains high, the festival itself will be quite different. Like so many in the past year, Sundance has had to reinvent itself as a mostly virtual expe- rience. Still, the 2021 Festival which kicks off Thursday is shaping up to be a robust mar- ket for companies looking for Wilde content. More than 72 feature fi lms are debuting over the sev- en days. It’s slimmed-down lineup from the previous years’ 118 and some already have ways to get to audi- ences, like Robin Wright’s “Land” and “Judas and the Black Messiah,” which will both be available to the masses in the coming weeks. But many this year are acquisition titles seeking distribution deals. “Buyers and sellers have found a rhythm for con- ducting business at virtual markets, to great success. And consumers are continuing to ask for more con- tent,” said Deb McIntosh, an SVP at Endeavor Con- tent. “I’m confi dent that we’ll fi nd distribution part- ners for all of our fi lms.” Julie Dansker, an executive at Shout! Studios, is Actress gestures to honoree in the audience during the American Film Institute’s 41st Lifetime Achievement Award Gala on June 6, coming to the virtual festival looking for fi lms to buy 2013, in Los Angeles. Leachman, a character actor whose depth of talent brought her an Oscar for the ‘’ and Emmys for her comedic work in and Sundance, she said, always offers a variety of ‘The Show’ and other TV series, has died. She was 94. (AP) fi lms from established and emerging talents. Projects This year there are high profi le projects from well- Obituary known names like actor Rebecca Hall’s directorial de- but “Passing,” starring Ruth Negga and Tessa Thomp- son as two light-skinned Black women who choose to live on opposite sides of the color line in 1929 New York. Jerrod Carmichael is making his debut with the ‘Irreplaceable’ actor of extraordinary range dark satire “On the Count of Three” with Christopher Abbott and . Questlove is too with his opening night documentary “Summer Of Soul (…Or, When The Revolution Could Not Be Televised).” Zoe Legendary actress Leachman dies Lister-Jones also reunites with her “Craft: Legacy” star Cailee Spaeny for “How It Ends,” co-starring Ol- LOS ANGELES, Jan 28, (AP): Clo- of contestants in “Dancing With the Morgenstern (). Phyl- ivia Wilde and Fred Armisen. And “CODA,” a day one fi lm from Sian Heder about a child of deaf adults, ris Leachman, an Oscar-winner for Stars,” not lasting long in the com- lis was so unexpectedly engaging that is expected to be one of the breakouts. her portrayal of a lonely housewife petition but pleasing the crowds with Leachman starred in a spinoff series As always, the documentary sections are fertile in “The Last Picture Show” and a her sparkly dance costumes, perching of her own, “Phyllis,” which ran on ground for buyers. Cohen and West’s “My Name is comedic delight as the fearsome Frau herself on judges’ laps and cussing CBS from 1975 to 1977. Pauli Murray” is among the sales titles as is Mariem Blücher in “” and during the live broadcast. With “Young Frankenstein,” Pérez Riera’s “: Just a Girl Who Decided self-absorbed neighbor Phyllis on She started out as Miss Chicago in Leachman became a member of “the to Go For It,” which examines how the entertainer “The Mary Tyler Moore Show,” has the Miss America Pageant and will- Mel Brooks stock company,” also ap- battled racism to become one of the few performers died. She was 94. ingly accepted unglamorous screen pearing in “” and “His- to win an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony. Lucy Leachman died in her sleep of nat- roles. tory of the World, Part I.” Her other Walker has a documentary about the history of wild- ural causes at her home in Encinitas, “Basically I don’t care how I look, fi lms included Bogdanovich’s “Daisy fi res, “Bring Your Own Brigade” and Jonas Poher California, publicist Monique Moss ugly or beautiful,” she told an inter- Miller,” and “,” repeating Rasmussen will debut his animated refugee documen- Daryl Wein, (left), and his wife Zoe said Wednesday. Her daughter Dinah viewer in 1973. “I don’t think that’s her role in “The Last Picture Show.” tary “Flee.” Lister-Jones, the co-directors, co- Englund was at her side, Moss said. what beauty is. On a single day, any In 2009, she released her autobiog- And then there’s the more unconventional efforts writers and co-producers of ‘How It A character actor of extraordinary of us is ugly or beautiful. I’m heart- raphy, “Cloris,” which made tab- like animator Dash Shaw’s psychedelic “Cryptozoo,” Ends,’ pose together for a portrait to range, Leachman defi ed typecasting. broken I can’t be the witch in ‘The loid headlines for her recounting of featuring the voices of Lake Bell, Michael Cera and promote the film for the Sundance In her early television career, she Wizard of Oz.’ But I’d also like to a “wild” one-night stand with Gene Grace Zabriskie. Or Nattawut Poonpiriya’s Wong Film Festival, Jan 27, in Los Angeles. appeared as Timmy’s mother on the be the good witch. Phyllis combines Hackman. Kar-Wai produced drama “One for the Road” and the Lister-Jones is also a cast member in the film. (AP) “Lassie” series. She played a frontier them both. Cloris Leachman grew up on the Timur Bekmambetov-produced social media age Ro- prostitute in “Butch Cassidy and the “I’m kind of like that in life. outskirts of Des Moines, , where meo and Juliet riff “R#J.” Sundance Kid,” a crime spree fam- I’m magic, and I believe in magic. she was born in 1926. The large fam- There are boundless “discovery” opportunities for ily member in “Crazy Mama,” and There’s supposed to be a point in life ily lived in an isolated wooden house parties looking beyond the fl ashy names who might Variety Blücher in Mel Brooks’ “Young when you aren’t supposed to stay be- with no running water, but the mother just stumble upon the next Ryan Coogler or Damien Frankenstein,” in which the very lieving that. I haven’t reached it yet.” had ambitious ideas for her children. Chazelle. mention of her name drew equine Cloris took piano lessons at the age As Sundance programmer Kim Yutani said, “You During the , Leachman be- don’t really know what these fi lms are until you see NEW YORK: Halsey has something new commentary. came busy in live TV drama, demon- of 5; since the family could not afford them.” to sing about: motherhood. “Every time I hear a horse whinny I strating her versatility, including in a piano, she practiced on a cardboard Audience enthusiasm for a particular fi lm might be The pop star announced on Instagram will forever think of Cloris’ unforget- roles that represented casting stand- drawing of the keys. harder to judge virtually, though. on Wednesday that she is expecting her table Frau Blücher,” Brooks tweeted, ards of that era. “I’m going to be a concert pia- fi rst child. The 26-year-old posted photos calling Leachman “insanely talented” nist,” the girl announced, and her “There’s all this energy that happens at a festival Triumph when you’re in person that is hard to translate to a vir- of her baby bump with the caption: and “irreplaceable.” mother encouraged her with book- “surprise!” Salutes from other admiring col- “One week I’d be on as a Chinese ings at churches and civic clubs. She tual environment,” said Jordan Fields, head of acquisi- A representative for the singer didn’t tions for Shout! Studios. “But on the upside, it gives leagues poured in on social me- girl, the next as a blond cockney and arranged for Cloris to ride on a coal immediately reply to an email seeking weeks later as a dark-haired someone us the ability to judge movies a little more objectively comment or additional information. dia. Steve Martin said Leachman truck to Des Moines for an audition because we’re not necessarily infl uenced by a crowd Halsey has released three platinum al- “brought comedy’s mysteries to the else,” she recalled. In 1955, she made for a Drake University student play. who stands up to cheer it at the end.” bums and is known for hits like “Without big and small screen.” “Nothing I her fi lm debut in a hard-boiled Mick- She was given the role and appeared Me,” “Bad at Love” and “Closer” with could say would top the enormity of ey Spillane saga, “” in other plays at a local theater. After Streaming the Chainsmokers. my love for you,” posted of - “I was the naked blonde that Mike high school, she won a scholarship to And indeed, for better or worse, that in-person Halsey has since earned a #1 album “The Mary Tyler Moore Show.” “Ap- Hammer picked up on that dark high- study drama at Northwestern Univer- energy has often played a role in negotiating the on the Billboard 200 with Hopeless plause on every entrance and exit,” way.” sity. price. Sometimes the hype is warranted, and you Fountain Kingdom (2017), as well as said Rosie O’Donnell. She followed with Rod Serling’s Admittedly a poor student, Leach- get a “Little Miss Sunshine.” But other times off two #2 albums with Badlands (2015) and “There was no one like Cloris. court-martial drama, “The Rack,” and man lasted only a year. As a lark the mountain, the glow fades and companies are left Manic (2020), the latter of which became With a single look she had the ability a season on “Lassie.” She continued while in the Chicago area, she tried with a flop. Prices have also been going up steadily the highest-selling debut and the most to break your heart or make you laugh in supporting roles on Broadway and out for a Miss Chicago beauty con- due to the influx of deep-pocketed streaming com- streamed album by a female artist in 2020. She has earned two #1 singles on ’till the tears ran down your face,” in movies, then achieved her triumph test and was chosen. She competed panies who don’t have to worry as much or at all Juliet Green, her longtime manager, with ’s “The Last in the 1946 Miss America pageant in about box office returns. the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the United States, including “Closer”, a collabora- said in a statement. Picture Show,” based on the Larry Atlantic City, qualifying as a fi nalist. Six years ago, Amazon and Netfl ix both struggled to In 1989, Leachman toured in McMurtry novel. Her consolation prize: a $1,000 talent get titles. Now, the streamers are some of the biggest tion with The Chainsmokers, and “With- out Me”; she has also attained a top-fi ve “Grandma Moses,” a play in which When Leachman received the Os- scholarship. players in the game. Last year saw Hulu and NEON single with “Bad at Love”. (Agencies) she aged from 45 to 101. For three car as best supporting actress of 1971, With new ambition, she went pay over $17.5 million (a record) for the worldwide ❑ ❑ ❑ rights to the Andy Samberg comedy “Palm Springs.” years in the 1990s she appeared in she delivered a rambling speech in directly to New York, where she “Boys State” also got a $12 million deal from Apple DOVER, Del: A Delaware judge major cities as the captain’s wife in which she thanked her piano and worked as an extra in a movie and un- and A24. This year there is an added anxiety about has approved a revised Weinstein Co the revival of “.” In the dancing teachers and concluded: derstudied in the hit play content since many productions were put on hold be- bankruptcy plan that provides about $35 1993 movie version of “The Beverly “This is for Buck Leachman, who “John Loves Mary.” cause of the pandemic. million for creditors, with roughly half Hillbillies,” she assumed the Irene paid the bills.” Her father ran a lum- More understudy jobs followed, But there’s also opportunity in the fact that there that amount going to women who have Ryan role as Granny Clampett. ber mill. and she enrolled at the could be a bigger and more diverse audience seeing accused disgraced fi lm mogul Harvey She also had an occasional role Despite her photogenic looks, she to hone her craft. “I fi nally quit be- the fi lms who may never have had the opportunity to Weinstein of sexual misconduct. as Ida on “,” continued to be cast in character cause of the smoking,” she said later. attend the expensive festival. The cost of entry for the The judge approved the plan after winning Emmys in 2002 and 2006 parts. Her most indelible role was “I couldn’t stand that blue haze.” virtual fi lms is $15 a ticket and many are sold out. a hearing Monday, overruling objec- for that show. Her Emmy haul over on “The Mary Ty- In 1953, Leachman married tions by attorneys representing producer “Taking Sundance off the mountain and to the Alexandra Canosa and actresses Wedil the years totaled eight, including ler Moore Show.” George Englund, later a fi lm director whole country will be a beautiful way to commune David and Dominique Huett, who have two trophies for Moore’s sitcom, Phyllis often visited Mary’s apart- and producer, and they had fi ve chil- together over our shared love and need for artistic ex- accused Weinstein of sexual assault, and tying her with Julia Louis-Dreyfus ment, bringing laments about her dren: Adam, Bryan, George, Morgan pression,” said McIntosh. a former Weinstein Co employee who as the top Emmy winners among husband Lars and caustic remarks and Dinah. The couple divorced in There have already been a few pre-Festival deals. claims she was subjected to a hostile performers. about Mary and especially about her 1979. Son Bryan Englund was found RLJE Films on Tuesday announced that it had acquired work environment. In 2008, Leachman joined the ranks adversary, another tenant, dead in 1986 at age 30. the Nicolas Cage fi lm “Prisoners of the Ghostland,” The settlement amount is $11.5 mil- Magnolia Pictures took the rights to “A Glitch in the lion less than under a previous plan, Matrix” from “Room 237” director Rodney Ascher, which was scrapped after a federal Bleecker Street snagged the Ed Helms drama “Together judge in New York refused to approve a Together” and Juno Films picked up the documentary proposed $19 million settlement between will go to a liquidation trust for resolv- claims. A claimant who elects not to “The Most Beautiful Boy” about Swedish actor Bjorn Weinstein and some of his accusers. The ing non-sexual misconduct claims, and release Weinstein but to retain the Andresen. But many are holding back pre-screenings settlement in that purported class-action $9.7 million will be used to reimburse option to sue him in another court and waiting until the actual Sundance premiere. lawsuit was a key component of the defense costs for former company would receive 25% of the value of her initial bankruptcy plan. offi cials other than Weinstein. The bankruptcy claim. “I’m still excited,” said Hall, whose “Passing” pre- plan also releases those offi cials from According to court records, 55 sexual mieres Saturday. “But would I rather that we were all Roughly half of the approved settle- ment, about $17 million, is allocated liability for tort claims related to Wein- misconduct claims were fi led in the together wandering through the snow, freezing cold for a single sexual misconduct claims stein’s conduct. bankruptcy case, with 39 holders of such and, you know, trudging down Main Street? Yes, I fund, down from about $25.7 million Holders of sexual misconduct claims claims voting in favor of the plan and would, because that communal experience is part of allocated for three separate categories will receive 100% of the liquidated eight voting against it. Among holders it.” (AP) of sexual misconduct claims under the value of their claims if they agree of general unsecured claims, 81, or 96%, previous plan. Another $8.4 million to release Weinstein from all legal Weinstein Halsey voted for the plan. (AP)